If you are unable to do even this, then taking refuge in Me alone and being self-controlled, do surrender (unto Me) the fruit of all action. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 – Verse 11)
Sri Krishna teaches abandonment of the fruits of actions. ‘To work you have the right, but not to the fruits thereof’. I know, it is by no means easy to give up doing things from a personal motive or desire; to act always for Me as My faithful servant; to ask every time, ‘Will this please Bhagavan?’ as has been taught in the previous verse. Therefore, if you cannot control your desire for certain actions or certain lines of work, then perform such work, but do not be anxious for the result. Remember that results come from Me. Let your attitude of mind be the same, no matter how the results turn out. Make Me responsible for that. My will comes to pass anyhow. You may call it good or bad, it matters not. Everything comes from Me; I ordain all things. Therefore live a life of faith knowing that both pleasure and pain, success and failure, come from Me.
Arjuna thought that the war depended on him. That was his egotism. Acts can only bear fruit through the grace and power of God. He is the distributor of karmaphala. If He withdraws, what would become of the results of any action? This however does not give us license. W e must not be reckless – because God is just; punishment is as sure to come as fruits – but strive for the highest result. Offer Me the best that is in you. Be energetic, thoughtful and sincere. Then your work will be acceptable to Me and you will not go astray. It means that we should do what we consider right, trusting in Bhagavan. Your will be done, Bhagavan. Accept my labor as an offering. It is a free gift that I offer to You. Therefore I have no right to the fruit of my labour. It belongs to You. If good results, I shall say, blessed be Your name, and if the result is not as I had expected or hoped for, I shall still say, blessed be Your name. But we must be sincere.
In the preceding shlokas, first, concentration of the mind on Bhagavan is enjoined. In case of inability to do that, abhyasa, or special practice of meditation, is advised. If one finds that to be too hard, the performance of action for the sake of Bhagavan has been taught. Those who cannot do even this, who want to do things impelled by personal or other desires, are directed to give up the fruits of those actions to Bhagavan – not to anticipate, or build on, or care for the results, knowing them to be dependent upon Bhagavan. Those who cannot control their desire for work are taught to practice in difference to the effects thereof. The next verse, verse twelve, extols the path of abandoning the fruits of all actions.